Summer vacations, beaches, picnics, and late nights may seem like they are fading into the back-to-school craze. Advertisements for water parks and sunscreen have been replaced by advertisements for calculators and binders. That is why we’re so happy to invite you to an event that will keep the summer fun going! This Sunday at Access we’re celebrating our community with a cookout, bounce houses, and water fun.

When: Sunday, August 14.

Join us at 9:00 or 10:30am for our family-friendly environments. We’re kicking off a new series in our services that explores what to do when we feel like we have problems with no solutions, when our lives, our jobs, or our marriages are stuck, and there are no good options.

Food and water play begin at 11:35.

Where: Access Church, 4911 Losco Rd.

What should I wear? Come as you are for our services, and bring swimwear and towels for the kids.

Will there be food? YES! We’ll be serving FREE burgers and hotdogs.… Read the rest

Regardless of the weather, the morning commute to work is compromised when the vehicle is out of fuel. The plans for the day could be ordinary or extraordinary, but they will never be realized if the catalyst for movement is empty.

This is a simple concept, but we rarely apply it to our spiritual endeavors. At Access Church, we understand that in order to be truly available for God to do great things in us, we have to be refueled.

Fuel ’16 is the perfect opportunity for individuals on Strategic Service teams, as well as those interested in joining a team, to rest and reignite the passion for service. The afternoon will include worship with our band, communion, a closer look at the vision behind our environments, and an opportunity to meet with your team for dinner, conversation, and bonding.

As summer winds to a close, this is a vital time to re-energize before the new school year kicks off. Make plans to join us Sunday, July 31, 4:00 – 6:30pm.… Read the rest

About a year and a half ago, the elders and I gathered a group of real-estate professionals and began a conversation about purchasing this building. However, we encountered two obstacles: First, we couldn’t afford what the sellers wanted for the building. We were about one million dollars apart. Second, at the time, about 70% of our attenders were coming from St. Johns, and it was clear that St. Johns was about to once again experience explosive growth.

So that team, which by the way, was made up entirely of Duval residents, decided to pursue the possibility of a new location for Access Church in St. Johns. It just seemed like the best way for us to connect the most people to Jesus.

The trick is finding something that is more convenient for our St. Johns attenders without discouraging our Duval attenders to also invite their neighbors. And, of course, there is also the cost factor.

I’m happy to report that we have at least one good option that has come to our attention, and we’re actively taking the next steps.… Read the rest

“Are they always this happy and welcoming, or was there a memo that new people were going to be here today?” That was Kelly and Geoff Marton’s first question about Access Church before they even got to the auditorium for their first service. Once the music started, their second question became, “This is CHURCH!?”

Although she grew up attending church, Kelly didn’t consider herself a “church person” anymore. But the Martons knew they wanted “something spiritual” for themselves and for Declan, their 2-year-old son. “I wanted God and community, not fire and brimstone,” Kelly said. On the advice of a friend and after a little online research, Kelly and Geoff decided to give Access a try. From pulling into the parking lot and interacting with the Guest Services volunteer (a fellow Steelers fan who commented on their Steelers-decorated Jeep), to the 80s rock music played by the fantastic band (Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer), they felt like they had found a good fit right away.… Read the rest

If you love Access Church and have extraordinary administrative gifts, we’ve got some great news! We’re looking for a ministry assistant! This part-time person will handle administrative tasks such as scheduling, preparing reports, maintaining our database, processing income and expenses, and more. Currently this position is budgeted at 12 hours per week (ideally Monday-Thursday, 8:00-11:00am). An office with a computer and a phone will be provided.

The planning and prayers of a few became the call to action for many at Access Church April 8 and 9. A team of women from Access Church hosted the second annual, two-day IF:Jacksonville gathering. The original IF:Gathering took place in February in Austin, Texas, but that event is capped at 2,200 women in order to encourage groups to meet in their own communities and places of influence. IF:Jacksonville included the speakers from the Austin event, but the Access team molded the event into something that would be relevant for the Jacksonville area.

The IF:Gathering theme this year was, “What if we lived like Jesus?” Stephanie Barrett, one of the IF:Jacksonville organizers, said the event began to take shape when they asked the more specific questions, “What does it look like to live like Jesus in our area? What does it mean to be the hands and feet of Jesus here in Jacksonville?”

Stephanie shared that there are so many ways to share Jesus’ love with a broken world, but the team felt it was important to follow the call of Jesus to care for “the least of these.” In Matthew 25:40 Jesus tells his followers that caring for the broken and helpless of society is the same as caring for him, so the women of Access made it their mission to show Jesus’ love to children in foster care and awaiting adoption right here in Jacksonville.… Read the rest

You may have seen David and Jolene Mathew, and their eight-year-old son, Judah, around Access Church. Seeing them, you may never guess that they actually have 40 children under their care! This story begins in India, where David was born and raised. David’s family still lives in India, and he returns to visit them when he is able. On one such visit, a little girl asked to clean his motorcycle windshield. She was just another orphan of the 31 million in India, a common sight. David could’ve easily waved her away. But he didn’t. He noticed her hand. It was broken. She told him her “rowdy” (pimp) had broken it because broken children get more when they beg. Just another little girl out of so many, yet precious and uncommon to God. David and the friend with him decided to do something to make a difference for this little girl. Hours later they returned for her, and found her a home, leaving one less child to be trafficked on the streets of India.… Read the rest

If Access Church is a body with arms outstretched toward those disconnected from God, the volunteers are the heart that keeps the body moving. Every week individuals with jobs and families show up to serve and love without expecting anything in return. There are several obvious benefits to serving; Friendships are born and nurtured, there is an opportunity to see growth in others, and it feels great to be part of something bigger than oneself. But often volunteering requires real sacrifice. The leaders of Access decided to spend an evening recognizing these sacrifices and thanking the volunteers for giving their time and hearts to the people who attend Access. This was the impetus for the first-ever Volunteer Appreciation Event on February 20, 2016.

The event was held at the Jacksonville Craig Airport inside a hanger decked out for fun and relaxation. Krystal Martz was the point person organizing the night. With a background in non-profits and event planning, Krystal helped design a night to honor volunteers with a lovely dinner, band, photographer, and program.… Read the rest

On Easter we took up an offering for the first time in several months to give it all away. Foster Closet is a fantastic organization in town and does a great job passionately advocating for the foster children of Northeast Florida.

Sarah Graves and her husband, Lawton, have been an active part of Access Church since 2010. Since their move to Jacksonville, they have added three beautiful girls to their family. Sarah was the preschool director at a church in Tallahassee before moving to Jacksonville. She quickly jumped into Strategic Service at Access in Waumba Land and later joined the Access staff as Waumba Land Director. This was a perfect fit when their
family was small, but as time passed and their family grew, Sunday mornings became more complicated. With three little ones in Waumba Land competing for her attention, balancing the roles of mom and director caused her to seek out other possibilities for serving. “I was willing to fill any position just to be part of the Access team,” Sarah said.

When she was asked to move to Student Ministry, Sarah was nervous but excited. Her own journey with Christ started during her teenage years, so she knew this was a vital time spiritually in the lives of students.… Read the rest

Last Sunday, Rich spoke about how powerful it can be to invite someone to join you at church. To conclude the message, we shared the stories of several families whose direction has been changed because someone invited them to Access Church. You can be part of someone’s story too. Invite them to spend #EasterWithUs!

“We love others because Christ loved us first.” These are the words we use to explain why we pursue God-sized dreams. In theory, many of the things we do throughout this life sound noble. But the reality is that lessons in faith, patience, and perseverance are attached to the journey. Three years ago, Chad and Rebecca Roerink said “YES” to God as they began the domestic adoption process with a home study and an expectant heart. As they waited for a placement, they did respite care for a three-year-old child. It was a good experience, and it opened their eyes to the broken and beautiful world of foster care.

Anyone who has been part of the adoption process knows that waiting is the most difficult part. It is easy to lose focus and wonder if it will ever actually happen. This was this heaviness that weighed on Rebecca’s heart on December 1, 2015. As she read through her Bible study online, her leader, Stephanie Barrett, asked a simple question of the group.… Read the rest

As the gurney glides down the hospital hallway, the fluorescent lights lining the ceiling are the only visual. In this moment, every ounce of independence that has been built is called in to question. Feelings of fear and loss of control become the leading actors in this scenario. Many individuals can relate to the reality of an emergency-room visit or hospital stay. We are required to put our health and wellbeing into the hands of others. We must depend on help for our most basic needs. It can be unsettling, but it can also be a wonderful opportunity to see God’s truth that we were NEVER meant to do life alone.

Michele Whetstone knows this story well because this has been her life for the past few weeks. November 23, 2015, marked the day she was forced to relent to the fact that her body was sick and she was entering a fight for her life. She credits her phenomenal healthcare providers with diagnosing her Bacterial Meningitis and helping to heal her body, but she also includes her loved ones and her Access Community Group members in her list of “lifesavers.”

Michele has been attending Access Church for three years.… Read the rest